Self-locking receptacle



Feb. 22, 1966 P. ORLANDO 3,236,443

SELF-LOGKING RECEPTAGLE Filed NOV. 26, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i BY United States Patent Gfi ice 3,236,443 Patented Feb. 22, 1966 3,236,443 SELF-LOCKING RECEPTACLE Philip Orlando, 527 Mifilin St., Philadelphia, Pa. Filed Nov. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 326,033 1 Claim. (Cl. 232-42) This invention primarily relates to a receptacle for storing delivered articles and for preventing the theft of these articles once they have been placed Within the receptacle.

It is one of the main objects of this invention to disclose a receptacle of the character indicated which includes a closure element provided with a latch which is actuated in response to the deposit of articles within the receptacle and the closing of the closure element.

Another object of this invention resides in the fact that the receptacle is provided with a second closure ele ment which is operable in order to remove the deposited articles from the receptacle. Means are provided for selectively blocking movement of said second closure element whereby deposited articles within the receptacle will be free from theft.

A still further object of this invention resides in the fact that the means for selectively blocking the movement of said second closure element may be a common appendage to a dwelling house such as a door or a window.

Yet another object of this invention resides in the fact that the means for selectively blocking the movement of said second closure element may be a bracket interfering with the movement of said closure element, which can be pivoted to a position allowing the closure element to move or can be locked in blocking relation to said closure element.

A still further object of this invention resides in the disclosure of a self-locking receptacle which comprises a minimum number of components, easily fabricated, and efficient in carrying out its intended purpose.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the self-locking receptacle comprising the subject matter of the instant invention.

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of the selflocking receptacle seen from a side opposite that of FIG- URE 1 and further illustrating a mounting bracket assembly used in conjunction with the receptacle.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the receptacle shown in use in conjunction with a door which can selectively block movement of a second closure element formed on the receptacle.

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view of the receptacle taken substantially along the plane indicated by the lines 44 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the plane indicated by the lines 5-5 of FIGURE 4 andillustrating the internal components housed within the receptacle in the absence of the deposit of an article therein.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 5 but illustrating the position of the internal components housed within the receptacle when an article has been deposited within the receptacle and the cover or first closure element overlies the receptacle enclosure.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the plane indicated by the lines 7-7 of FIGURE 5.

Referring-to the drawings in detail, the subject matter of the instant invention comprises a receptacle 10 which includes a front wall 12, a back wall 14, a pair of side walls 16 and 18, and a bottom wall 22. A closure or cover element 20 is hinged to the back wall 14 by means of a pair of hinges such as 24 and 26 for completing the receptacle and enclosure. A U-shaped carrying handle 21 is secured to the closure element 20.

A portion of the side wall 18 of the receptacle 10 is hingedly connected to the back Wall 14 by means of a pair of hinges 30 and 32 to form a second closure element for the receptacle.

Projecting from the first closure element 20 is a lug 34. A latch plate 36 comprising a hooked portion 40 is pivotably secured to the front wall 12. The latch plate is adapted to be pivoted into a position as illustrated in FIGURE 1 wherein the hooked portion 40 may be disposed above the projecting lug 34 to hold the closure element 20 in its overlying relation with the remaining walls of the enclosure. A finger grip 38 is secured to the latch plate 36 in normal relation thereto whereby by grasping the finger grip 38 the latch plate 36 may be pivoted so that the closure element 20 may be moved.

A similar arrangement to that described above is also provided for securing the second closure element 28 against movement. Therefore, a projecting lug 42 is secured to the closure element 28. A latch plate 44 is pivotably secured to the front wall 12 of the receptacle and comprises a hooked portion 48 which may be disposed over the projecting ing 42 for preventing movement of the closure 28. A finger grip 46 is also secured to the latch plate 44 in normal relation thereto for pivoting the latch plate 44 to allow movement of the closure 28.

A bracket asembly is provided whereby the receptacle may be mounted upon a suitable supporting surface. The bracket assembly comprises a first member generally designated by the numeral 50 which includes a plate 52 rigidly secured to the back wall 14 of the receptacle 10. The plate 52 includes a plate 54 disposed normal thereto which terminates in a projecting finger 56 spaced from the back wall 14. A second member of the bracket assembly is generally designated by the numeral 57 and includes a short channel-shaped member 58. The member 58 is provided with mounting flanges 60 and 62 extending from opposite edges thereof in opposite directions for mounting the member 57 upon a suitable supporting surface. A reversely opening second channel shaped member 64 is secured to the web of the channel shaped member 58. With the second member of the bracket assembly secured to a supporting surface, it is only neces-- sary to slide the projecting finger 56 into the mating channel 64 to mount the receptacle 10 upon said supporting surface.

Attention is directed specifically to FIGURES 4 to 7 wherein mechanism is disclosed Within the interior of the receptacle 10 for rendering the receptacle self-locking upon the deposit of an article therein. This mechanism includes an arm generally designated by the numeral 74 pivotably mounted within the receptacle upon a bracket 78 secured to the bottom wall 22. The arm includes an elongated vertical portion 75 terminating at one end in a reversely bent hook 76. The other end of the arm 74 terminates in a horizontal portion 77 including an eye 79 secured to the bracket 78 by means of a pivot pin 80. The horizontal portion 77 is connected to a second vertical portion 82 which in turn is connected to an article supporting plate 84 by means of a second horizontal portion 83.

Suspended from the underside surface of the closure element 20 is a Z-shaped bracket 78. The bracket 70 includes a camming surface 72 in which is formed an aperture 73.

With no article deposited within the receptacle 10, the self-locking mechanism assumes the position as ShOWn in FIGURE 5. That is, the arm 74 is so mounted as to normally tend to turn about its pivot in a counterclockwise direction as shown in FIGURE 5. In order to limit the counterclockwise pivotable movement of the arm 74, an L-shaped bracket 90 is secured to the bottom wall 22. The bracket 90 includes a short leg 92 disposed in the path of counterclockwise movement of the arm 74. When no load is disposed upon the article supporting plate 84, the arm 74 will pivot to the position shown in FIGURE wherein it abuts and strikes the short leg 92 of the bracket 90.

When an article such as a milk bottle 86 is deposited within the receptacle and placed upon the article supporting plate 84, the vertical portion 75 of the arm 74 will be moved to a position perpendicular to the bottom wall 22 of the receptacle. As the closure element 20 is swung downwardly about the hinges 24 and 26, the camming surface 72 on the bracket 70 will engage the reversely bent hook portion 76 upon the arm 74. As downward movement of the cover is continued, the arm 74 will be rocked in a counterclockwise direction against the bias placed on the arm by the milk bottle 86, arm 74 being sutficiently rigid to slightly lift the milk bottle 86, by pivoting counter-clockwise about pin 80. Naturally, it is understood that arm 74 may be of an elastic material, such as a spring steel, so the arm 74 slightly deflects as Well as lifts the milk bottle 86. In either event, the weight of the milk maintains the bias force which tends to move the arm 74 in a clockwise direction about pivot 78. This movement of the arm 74 will allow the closure element 20 to assume a position closing the receptacle and permit the camming surface 72 of the bracket 70 to clear the reversely bent hook portion 76 on the arm 74.

When the camming surface 72 clears the hook portion 76, the weight of the milk bottle 86 will cause the arm 74 to pivot in a clockwise direction to assume the position shown in FIGURE 6. In this position, the hook portion 76 will be disposed directly above the aperture 73 formed in the camming surface 72 of the bracket 70. Hence, if the closure 20 is attempted to be opened, the hook portion 76 will be forced into the aperture 73. This will prevent opening of the closure element 20. It should therefore be apparent that upon the deposit of an article on the article supporting plate 84 within the receptacle, and closing of the closure 20, the closure 20 remains permanently closed and cannot be opened by a person desiring access to the interior of the receptacle. This renders the receptacle self-locking and prevents thefts of the articles deposited within the receptacle.

The second closure 28 may be used to remove the articles deposited within the receptacle. However, if movement of the closure 28 were readily available, the whole purpose of the self-locking receptacle would be defeated. Therefore, it is necessary to provide means for blocking movement of the second closure 28 until an authorized person desires to remove the contents of the receptacle.

If the receptacle is used for the deposit of standard household items such as milk, eggs, bread, groceries, juices, butter, fruit, or magazines or the like, the receptacle may be mounted upon a door frame molding such as 66 by means of the first and second bracket members 50 and 57. This arrangement is illustrated in FIGURE 3. The receptacle 10 is mounted so that the door 68 is positioned in juxtaposed relation to the closure element 28. This prevents the closure element 28 from being pivoted to an open position since the door 68 blocks the movement of the closure element. When it is desired to remove the contents of the receptacle 10, it is only necessary to open the door 68 and pivot the closure element 28.

The receptacle 10 may be formed from corrosion resistant materials. Further, the receptacle 10 may be insulated in order to protect against spoilage of the articles deposited within the receptacle. The article supporting plate 84 may also be formed with a plurality of indentations such as 88 for receiving small bottles and the like to maintain their upright deposited position.

It should thus be appreciated that a self-locking storage receptacle for common household staples has been provided which is fool-proof to prevent theft of the articles deposited within the receptacle. The deliverer of the articles need only deposit the articles upon the article support plate 84 and close the first closure element 20. Once the article has been deposited upon the plate 84, the receptacle is conditioned for locking itself, said locking being completed upon pivoting of the closure 20 to an overlying position of the receptacle. A second closure is provided for removing the contents of the receptacle. Means have been disclosed for selectively blocking movement of said second closure element, said means comprising common appendages of a house. Upon opening of said appendage, the second closure element may be opened to remove the contents of the receptacle. Further, when an appendage is not readily available, a novel locking bracket has been disclosed for use in blocking movement of said second closure element. This locking bracket may be mounted in any convenient location where the receptacle is mounted.

The receptacle is preferably used to store empty bottles which are placed therewithin in a manner so as not to engage plate 84. By placing empties in the receptacle, they are not susceptible to accidental breakage or visible to vandals who make sport of throwing stones or other objects at empty bottles on door steps. Hence, there is an avoidance of danger which would otherwise arise due to the presence of empty bottles or broken glass.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claim rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

In combination, a self-locking receptacle comprising an enclosure including front, back, side and bottom walls, a cover for said enclosure hingedly connected to said back wall, an L-shaped arm having a substantially vertical portion and a substantially horizontal portion within said enclosure, said horizontal portion pivoted at said front wall on a point removed from said vertical portion more than half the distance along said horizontal portion, article support means connected to said pivotable arm at said horizontal portion on an opposite side of said pivot point from that of said vertical portion for biasing of said arm about its pivot when supporting a predetermined load, means operable during movement of said cover to a position covering said enclosure for rocking said arm about its pivot against the bias of said article support means, said arm cooperating with said rocking means in response to the bias of the article support means when the cover overlies the enclosure for preventing said cover from being moved, said rocking means including a bracket having a camming surface suspended from said cover, a hole in said camming surface, said vertical portion of said arm including a hooked portion disposed beneath said camming surface when said article support means carries a predetermined load, said hooked portion being rockable by said camming surface against the bias of said article support means to allow the camming surface to pass beneath it during the movement of said cover, said article support means biasing said hooked portion into overlying relation to said camming surface and hole when said cover overlies the enclosure, whereby attempted movement of said cover away from its overlying position will cause said hooked portion to engage within said hole, at

least one of said side Walls being hingedly connected to said back wall to provide an entrance into said enclosure when said cover is in overlying relation thereto, a vertical bracket wall substantially parallel to and spaced from said front Wall to form a slot containing said L-shaped arm, said bracket Wall being a barrier to prevent contact between said arm and articles to be placed in the receptacle and means to detachably anchor said receptacle at said back Wall so that one of said side walls may be juxtaposed to a selectively operable blocking means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Brachrnan 23242 Roger 232-41.1 Tenerowicz 23241.1

Wilke 23241 Willett 232-41 Butke 232-42 10 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

